Automatic fare box



Jan. 2, 1934. o. MILLER 1,941,707

AUTOMATIC FARE BOX Filed March 5, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l 0604/? MA A 1:7?

Jan. 2, 1934.

O. MILLER AUTOMAT I G FARE BOX Filed March 5, 19152 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 552%? M/AAf/P Jan. 2, 1934.

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Patented Jan. 2, 1934 TES 1,941,767 AUTOMATIC than BOX Oscar Miller, Denver, 0610., 'as'sigiior tr forty per cent to Foster Cline, Denver, Colo; Application March 5, 19a. .Serial No. 597,041 1's Claims. (01. 235-32) This invention-relates to a'c'oin receiving and recording device, commonly known as a "fare box", and while more particularly applicable as a fare bOX for street railways and the like it I will be found valuable wherever it is desired to collect and register a rare or admission fee.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a fare box which will operate entirely from the weight of the inserted coins and which will 1'] require no manual dr'electric'al operations.

Another object is to provide a fare box which wilstop and display each individual coin so that counterfeits can be detected; which will automatically separate the various coins and tokens I8 according to theirsize; and which will automatically register each coin of each kind passing through the machine.

Another object is to provide means for preventing unauthorized or accidental operation of 70' the recordingmechanism.

Still another object is to so construct the fare bdx that it will o erate efficiently regardless of the number'or rapidity which the coins are insei'ted. a

2B A-further object is to provide a fare boi: which can be Completely locked Within its enclosing case by means of a single seal so that unauthorized interference will be prevented, andfyet so that the interior can be'q'uickly andeasily reached for repairs; renewals and the like.

A still further object resides in a novel means for securing the fare box to its supporting stand so that it can be quickly and easily reinoved and exchanged when necessary.

Otherobjects and advantages reside in thedetail construction of the invention, which is .designed for simplicity, economy, and efliciency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawings and throughout the description.

In the drawings: 0

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the complete device in place upon its supporting stand. V

Fig. 2 i's'a bottoin view of the iinprovedfare b'o'x. M l H V Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the internal mechanism with'the' outer housing removed.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view illustrating the cash drawer employed in the device. V

Fig; 5 isa de ail section taken through the supporting stand on the line 5 5, Fig. 6, with the box in place thereon. I D Fig. 6 is'a detail view illustrating the supporting stand forre'ceiv'ing and carryingjthe farebox. I Fig. 7 is an enlarged vernmareeet t through '80 the upper portion of the improved fare box taken on the center line AA of Fig. 1, illustr'at'in'gth c'o in displaying inechanism. I} Fig. Bis a detail face view of the 'coin rec'eiv ing chute.

Figs. 9 and 10 are cross sections throughjtl'ie receiving chute taken on the lines 9-9, and l0 -10, respectively,Fig.'8. g

Fig. 11 is a plan view or the upper portion of the coin displaying mechanism with the enclosing housing removed.

' Fig. 12 is a continuation Oi the vertical sctiofr of Fig. 7 along the center line A A or Fig; 1,

illustrating the coin distributing mechan sm.

Fig. 13 is a vertical section taken on the line 5' 13-13, Fig. 12 illustrating a rear view of the oin distributing mechanism.

Figs. 14, 15, and 16 are plan viewsnf the up er, intermediate, and lower coin distributing plates, respectively. 7 g p Fig. 17 is a continuation of the vertical see}- tions of Figs; 7 and 12 along thecen ter line A A, illustrating the coin counting mechanirn. k A

Fig. 18 is a rear elevation of the coin conntmg mechanism with its rear plate removed, lookmg in the direction of the arrow 18, Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a front elevation of the counting wheels with the front plate of the counting mechanism relnoved. Fig. 20 is a detail view illustrating the con struction of the ratchet franies on the c'on'nting wheelshafts. i H I M t, k

The entire inechanism is supported and constructed about an internal supporting ir ni'e 20' which fits snuglywitl'iin an enclosing housing 21. The frontof theenclosing housing Lgl'is closed by means of a removable cover plate 22.

A coin receiving chute 23 is secured to thefi'ont of the upper portion of the frame 20], having'fa' coin channel 50 terininating at its upper" extremityinacoinreceiver 24. g V y H In assembling the device, the entire' fi'aihe 20 with its associated mechanism is slid withinjthe housingzl, and moved up ard thereinluntfl the coin receiver 2 4 projects through a suitable opening in the top thereof as shown inFig g; 1 The irame is supported in its elevated po sition n. h h u b m a r a lashfiox 125 which is slid into, the housing 21 beneath the bottoin of the frame 20 "sc'as'to support tlie lat ter. When the cover plate 22 is in place it prevents withdrawal of the cash box 25 or the frame 20.

The cover plate 22 is held in place by a top flange 26 which projects under the metal of the housing 21, and by means of suitable ears 2'7, see Fig. 17, which project into the mechanism to receive a locking bolt 23. A front plate 29 and side plates 31 enclose thelower portion of the frame 20. The front plate 29 is provided with suitable slots 30 into which the ears 2'7 pass. The side plates 31 are provided with openings 32 through which the locking bolt28 passes into the ears 2'2. Therefore when the locking bolt 28 is in place, removal of the cover plate 22 or any part of the mechanism is prevented. This bolt may be sealed as to prevent unauthorized removal thereof by means of a suitable seal 33.

The entire housing 21 is designed to be attached to a bracket plate 34 which is secured to any suitable supporting super-structure 35. An elongated slot 34' is formed in the bracket plate 34 to receive a slidable, round-headed, bolt 36,

' the lower extremity of which is provided with a wing nut 37. Two short studs 38 also project above the bracket plate 34. The bottom of the housing 21 is formed as shown in Fig. 2 with a keyhole slot 39, for receiving the head of the bolt 36, and with holes for receiving the studs 38.

' When the housing 21 is placed upon the plate 34, the head of the bolt 36 is pushed into the enlarged portion of the slot 39. The bolt is then j slid forwardly into the narrow portion of the slot 39 and the nut 37 is tightened. This firmly clamps the housing over the studs 38 but allows it to be quickly and easily removed. It will be noted that the bracket plate 34 supports a coin tray 41, in which the coins are caught after being removed from thecash box 25.

The coin receiving chute 23 is arranged to momentarily hold and display each coin in the rear of a display opening 42, across which suitable bars 43 are placed to prevent the coins from falling therethrough. A magnifying lens 99 is placed in the housing 21 immediately in front of the opening 42, through which a magnified image of the coin may be viewed.

The mechanism for stopping each coin in the opening 42 is illustrated in Fig. 7. It comprises an upper lever shaft 44 and a lower lever shaft 45. r A coin actuated lever 46 projects forwardly from the upper lever shaft 44 through a vertical slot 47 formed in the coin channel 50 of the coin chute 23.

The weight of each coin as in sert'ed carries the lever 46 downwardly to the broken line position B, Fig. 7, so as to rotate the upper lever shaft 44. A stop pin 48 projects forwardly from a short lever 49 on the lever shaft 44, through suitable openings, across the coin channel 50 so that as the lever shaft 44 rotates forwardly, the stop pin 48 will be projected into the coin channel to prevent additional coins from following the first until the lever 46 has returned to receive them.

The movements of the shaft 44 are communicated to the lower lever shaft through a connecting rod 51 and a relatively longer lever 52 on the shaft 45. The latter shaft is provided with a double lever 53, from the extremities of which, stop'pins 54 and 55 project forwardly into the coin channel immediately above and below the coin position in the opening 42. The above mechanism is maintained in its normal position with the lever 46 raised by means of a weight 56 which is carried on a rearwardly extending weight arm 57 from the lower lever shaft 45.

When in the normal position, the lower stop pin will project across the coin channel so as to support a coin at the opening 42 for inspection. When the next coin is dropped into the coin channel, it will swing the lever 46 so as to cause the mechanism to withdraw the stop pin 55 allowing the coin on display to drop, and will project the upper stop pin 54 so as to support the next coin until the stop pin 55 returns it to its former position for receiving it.

Thus, if a series of coins are dropped into the coin receiver 24, each coin will actuate the lever 46 so as to cause the stop pin 55 to release the proceeding coin and to cause the pins 43 and 54 to hozd bacl; the succeeding coins until mechanism ready to receive them.

It will be noted that the front wall of the coin channel. 56 is indented forwardly as shownat 58. This is to accommodate theinitial movement of the stop 48. That is, the stop pin will start its forward movement before the coin has passed it and t e pin will push the coin forward into the depression 53 as the coin moves downwardly so that the pin will be in a position to stop the next above coin even before the lastgcoin has left. This is an important feature, as it allows the stop to hold back and separate a con-- tinuous series of contacting coins in the coin channel. so that the coins will fall'one at a time to the display opening 42,

From the coin receiving chute 23, the coins pass to a distributing and separating device which is shown'more in detail in 12, 13, l4, l5, and 16. The separating device comprises a series of inclined plates. As illustrated the inclined plates comprise an coin plate 59, for the largest coins; an intermediate coin plate 60, for.

the medium sized coins; a lower coin plate 61, for the smallest coins; and a cover; plate 62. The coin plates 56, 60, and 61 each terminate in discharge spouts 64, :.d 65, respectively. The plates are maintained in spaced relation by means of suitable spacer blocks 66 and are secured together to the 20 by clamp screws 67.

It will be noted that the coin chute 23 terminates at its lower extremity in a pair of'rearward- 1y curved feet 68 which extend between the upper coin plate 59 and the cover plate 62. On the inner edges of each, of the feet 68 a ledge or shelf 69 is formed which supports the largest coins or tokens by their edges and directs them onto the upper coin plate 59. These largest coins will then be directed by means of coin guides 70 to the discharge spout 63.

The smaller coins will pass through an opening '71 in the upper coin plate 59 onto. the intermediate coin plate 66. It will be noted that the coin plate 60 has a elongated opening 72 of slight: ly less width than the niediurn' sized coin. This prevents the medium sized coins or tokens, from passing through and they will be guided by suitable guides 73 across theintermediate platefio to the discharge spout 64. The still smaller coins or tokens will fa through the opening 7 2 to the lower coin plate 61 where they will be guided by coin guides 74 to tively, into verticaI- coin-passages 75,76 and 77, respectively in-the counting a'ndrecording portion of'th'e device which is illustrateddndetail in Figs. 17 to 20.

The counting echanism is located in the lower portion of the frame 20in a compartment enclosed by the plates 29and31. In the front of the compartment, three series of counting wheels 78 are mounted upon three horizontal counter shafts 79, there being one seriesof counter wheels for each of the coin passages 75, 76', and 77. Since. each coinpassage and its counterwheels operate similarly to the other coin passages and their counter wheels, the mechanism will be described as applied to the single coin passage-75.

Aten-tooth ratchet wheel 80 is secured on the counter shaft 79 within a rotatable ratchetframe 81("A spring actuated pawl 82 is mounted in the ratchet frame 81 to engage the teeth of the ratchet 80 so that, as the ratchet frame is rocked, it will' rotate the counter shaft 79 in one dir'ectio'n. Return rotation of the counter shaft 793s preventedby. means ofa second ratchet wheel'100- on the shaft 79, against which a fixed 25 spring actuated pawl101 acts. 'The ratchet frame is rocked" by means of a counting lever 83 which extends rearwardly across the coin channel 75 througha vertical slot 84. Thus, as

each coin" drops down the channel, it will strike theendofthe lever' 83 and swing it downward to the brokenline position C, Fig. 17, so as to rock the ratchet frame and advance the counter shaft of a revolution. After the passage of each coin, the counting lever 83 will be returned to itsformer 'topfp'osition by means of a coil spring 85 which is wrapped about the counter shaft 79 and 'actsagainst the-ratchet frame 81.

'Ea cl i"of the series of counting wheels 78 is of course provided with the usual decimal shaft 86 40 for converting each complete rotation of one cdunt'er wheel into a revolution of the next as is; usual in constructions of this nature; It is' of' course desirable to prevent more than onecoin from acting on the lever 83 at a time.

This is accomplished by means of astop rod 87, which is hinged to the topof the ratchet frame 81 as 'shown at 88, and which projects into an opening in the inner wall of the coin channel '75 immediately above the vertical slot 84. It can be readily seen that as the counting lever 83 moves downwardly, thestop'rod 87 will be projected rearwardly so as to prevent other coins frompassing down the channel 75 until the counting lever 83 has returned'toreceive them.

' It will be noted that the coin channels widen immediately in front of the stop rod 87so as to accommodate theinitial movement of the rod similarly to the depression 58 previously de- U scribed. with reference to the receiving chute'23.

indication on the counting. wheel.

The indications on the counter :wheels 78 are visible through a glass plate 89 in the front of the? housing 21.

In some installations, vibrationmight tend to swing thecounting levers 83 and produce a false To prevent this, locking latches 90 may be pivotally mounted on the. rear wall of: the coin channels. The latches 90""te'rminate in-beveled feet 91 under eachof the counting levers 83 so as to lock them in? the upper portions of their slots 84. The latches '90'are released by. means of a short coin contact lever 92 which extends into: the coin channels to. contact with the passing coins. The. feet 91 are maintained in the locking position by. means of a suitable coin spring 93.. It

can'be seen that coin in passing downward in the coin channel will strike'with contact lever 92'and cause it to swing the foot 91 outwardly and rearwardly so as to release the counting lever 83. It will be noted that the feet 91 are inclined so as to allow the levers 83 to ratchet pass them'when returning to their former p'o'sitions. I

From the coin channels 75, 76, and 77 the coins fall against a bell 94 positioned in the cashbox '25. To facilitate the sound of the bell reaching he exterior, suitable openings -95f--are formed in the cash box which register with similar openings 96 in the housing 21. The bottom of the cash box is inclined as shownin Figs. 4 and 5 to place th'e'fcoins within reach of-the operatorfs hand when it is inserted through a pair of spring actuated'door's 97.

' It is desired to" call attention to theforked'ex tremity 48' formed on the stop rod 48 and'a slin ilar'forked extremity 87' formed onone of the stopr'ods '87. These particularforked extremi ties are for handling tokens having anopen' center such as are commonly employed on streetra'llway systems. On such tokensa single stop rod is simply for the purpose of positioning the counter lever 83 andthe' stop rod 87 of this set in the center of the machine. a

While the machine has been described for separating, counting, and registering three different types of coins, it is of courseconceivable that it could-be constructed to handle any'des'ir'ed number of different coins by simply increasing or decreasing the number of plates in the coin separator, the number of channelsin the counting mechanism, and thenumber of sets of counti g Wheels.

7 While a specific form of the improvementhas been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understoodthatthe same may be varied, withinthe scopeof the appended claims, withoutv departing from thespiritof the invention.

Having thus described the invention, whatis claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent 1. A farebo'x comprising! a coin receiving and registering mechanism; a housing for enclos ing said mechanism; a cash box supporting said mechanism in said housing; a front plate clos? ing said housing and maintaining said mechanism and said cash box in place therein; look ing means passing throughsaid housing," and said mechanism for locking said front plate in place thereon; and ears projecting inwardly from said front plate into saidmec'han'ism to engage said locking means to lock said front plate in place. 2. Means for attaching a fare box to a sup porting structure comprising: a bracket plate; studs projecting upward from said bracket plateinto said fare box so as to prevent horizontal movement of the latter; and aheaded bolt projecting thrua slotted opening--in-said and for separately displaying each individual than the largest coin to beseparated; means for third inclined plate below said second plate for bracket plate and arranged to enter akey hole slot in said fare box and clamp in the narrowed portion of thelatterto lock said fare box on said studs. I

3. Means for, attaching a fare, box to a sup}, po t n t c ur com in a bracket mate; studs projecting-upward from said bracket plate into said fare box so as to prevent horizontal movement'of the latter; a headed bolt projecting thru a slotted opening in said bracket plate andarranged to enter a key-hole slot. insaid fare box and clamp in the narrowed portion of the latter to lock said fare box on said studs; and a coin tray formed on said bracket plate and arrangedto project forward of. said fare box whenthe latter is in position on said bracket pla 4. Means for separating incoming c oins in a coin box comprising; a substantially vertical coin chute having a coin passage therein; a lever pivoted adjacent said chuteand projecting into said coin passage so as to be moved downwardly by the wcightof a coin therein; means for returning said lever upwardly after the passage of; said coin; and a stcp member arranged to be coin in the coin passage of a fare box comprising: an upper-lever shaft; a lower lever shaft; an actuating lever projecting from said upper lever shaft into said passage so as to be moved downwardly by the weight .of a coin therein; means for returning said actuating lever to its uppermost position; a second lever projecting from said upper lever shaft; a stop member ex.

tending from said; second lever to said coin passage so as to interrupt the flow of coins therein during the operation of ,said actuating lever; means for transmitting the movement of said upper leverv shaft tosaid lower lever shaft; op-

positely extending levers projecting from said lower lever shaft; a stoppin extending from each of said latter levers to said coin channel so as to stop each win at a predetermined position in said channel until said actuating lever operates, therebeing an opening in said channel at saidposition through which said stopped coin may be viewed.

6. Means for separating coins of various sizes in a fare box comprising: a first inclined plate provided with an opening of slightly less width directing the coins across said opening so that all except the largest will fall therethrough; a second inclined plate below said first plate for receiving the :coins passing through said opening, said second plate having an opening of slightly lesswidth than the next largest coins; means fordirecting the coins across the opening in said second plate so that coins smaller than the said next largest will fall therethrough; a

receiving the coins passing through the opening in said second plate; a first spout positioned adjacent the middle of the lowermost edge of one plate; individual spouts for the other plates said latterspouts being positioned at each side of said first spout; and guide means on each of said platesfor guiding the coins retained thereby laterally to its individual spout. v V I 7. Means, forregistering the number, of coins passing through a fare box comprising: a gravityv operated, coin passage; a counting wheel shaft;

counting wheels mounted on said shaft; a ratchet wheel mounted on said shaft; a ratchet frame ar-. ranged to pivot about said shaft adjacent said ratchet wheel; a pawl carried by said frame and arranged to engage said ratchet wheel; and a lever projecting from said frame into said coin passage so that the weight of a coin therein will swing said lever and operate said counting wheels.

8. Means for registering the number of {coins passing through a fare box comprising: a gravity; operated coin passage; a counting wheel shaft; counting wheels mounted on said shaft; a ratchet wheel mounted on said shaft ;,a ratchet frame arranged to pivot about said shaft adjacent said ratchet wheel; a pawl carried by said frame and arranged to engage said ratchet wheel; a lever projecting from said frame into said coin passage so that the weight of a coin therein will swing said lever and operate said counting wheels; means for returning said lever to its normal position after it is released by said coin; and a'stop rod hinged to said ratchet frame and arranged to be projected into said coin passage abovesaid lever as the latter operates so as to prevent succeeding coins from reaching said lever until the latter has been returned to its normal position.

9. Means for registering the number of coins. passing through a fare box comprising: a vertical coin passage having a vertical slot in its walls; a lever pivoted adjacent said passage and projecting through said passage in said slot so as to be moved downwardly therein by the weight of, a coin; a counting mechanism actuated by said lever means for returning said lever upwardly; a stop member to be projected, in consequence of the movement of said lever, into said coin channel above said lever so as to stop the coins in said channel until said lever has returned; and a forked extremity formed on said stop member so that the extremities of said fork will contact with said coins on opposite sides of the center thereof.

10. Means for registering the number of coins passing through a fare box comprising: a vertical coin passage having a vertical slot in its walls; a lever pivoted adjacent said passage and projecting through said passage in, said slot soas to be moved downwardly therein by the weight of acoin; a counting mechanism actuatedby said lever; means for returning said lever upwardly; a stop member to be projected, in consequence of the movement of said lever, into said coin channel above said lever so as to stop the coins in said channel until said lever has returned; and a depression formed in the wall of said passage opposite said stop member so that the latter can push a coin to the side of said passage out of alignment with thenext above coin.

11. Means for separating incoming coins in a. coin device comprising: a substantially vertical. coin chute; a relatively long lever pivoted at its one extremity and extending at its other ex-' tremity through said coin chute, there beinga vertical slot in said coin chute to allow said other extremity to be swung downwardly by contact with the first c'oin moving downwardly in said chute; a short lever fixed to said long lever and 0 extending upwardly from adjacent the pivoted extremity thereof; a stop member hinged at its one extremity to said short lever, and having its other extremity extended toward said coin chute so that as said long lever swings downwardly the latter extremity of said stop member will be projected into said coin chute to prevent succeeding coins from following the first until said lever returns.

12. Means for separating incoming coins in a coin device comprising: a substantially vertical coin chute; a relatively long lever pivoted at its one extremity and extending at its other extremity through said coin chute, there being-a vertical slot in said coin chute to allow said other extremity to be swung downwardly by contact with the first coin moving downwardly in said chute; a short lever fixed to said long lever and extending upwardly from adjacent the pivoted extremity thereof; a stop member hinged at its one extremity to said short lever, and having its other extremity slidably supported in an opening in said coin chute so that as said long lever swings downwardly the latter extremity of said stop member will be projected into said chute to prevent succeeding coins from following the first until said lever returns.

13. Means for interrupting and separating a stream of incoming coins in a substantially vertical coin chute comprising: a substantially verti-.- cal double lever positioned opposite one face of said chute and pivoted intermediate its extremities; an upper stop pin hinged at its one extremity to the upper extremity of said lever; a lower stop pin hinged at its one extremity to the lower extremity of said lever, the other extremity of each of said pins being slidably supported in said coin chute; a relatively long lever pivoted at its one extremity above said double lever with its free extremity extending into said coin chute so as to be operated by contact with the coins therein; and a connecting rod operatively connected between said long lever and said double lever so that movement of the coins in said chute will swing said double lever to alternately project said upper and lower pins into said chute to interrupt and separate the coins therein.

OSCAR MILLER. 

